Machine for coating blanks.



E. W. LABOMBAHDE.

MACHINE FOR COATING BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1915.

l ,81 8 4 E19 0 Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET ey %/AW Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Even-tor. .Z'Zie w-laaomaartle E. W. LABOMBARDE.

MACHINE FOR COATING BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13. 1915.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

E. W. LABOMBARDE.

MACHINE FOR COATING BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1915.

W Wm am 6%. ms w Lnnbufi h fl w .a Q E E. W. LABOMBARDE.

MACHINE FOR COATING BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13. 1915.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. W. LABOMBARDE.

MACHINE FOR COATING BLANKS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1915- Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6- ELIE W. LABOMBARDE, OF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

MACHINE FOR COATING BLANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

Application filed July is, 1915. Serial No. 39,582.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIE W. LABOMBARDE, of Nashua, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Coating Blanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of moisture proof receptacles, and refers especially to means for rendering all portions of the blanks moisture proof excepting those portions which have an adhesive applied thereto when the blanks are folded to carton form.

The machine illustrated and described herein is designed for treating the blanks with paraflin, but I do not limit myself, of course, to the use of paraffin as the substance applied to the blanks for rendering them moisture proof. I

The principal object of my invention is to provide a machine for the rapid treat-.

ment of theblanks while in flat form, leaving one surface of one edge and the opposite surface of another edge untreated or uncoated, so that ordinary adhesive can be employed later for securing the two uncoated surfaces together, when the blanks are run through folding machines to convert them to carton form.

Another object is to provide improved means for insuring a constant and proper supply of melted paraffin.

\Vith these and further objects .in ,view my invention consists in the improvements which I shall now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure l-is a side elevation, with the driving shaft in section, of a machine embodying my improvements.

Fig. '2 represents a longitudinal section of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a somewhat smaller scale than Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation looking from line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a planview of the parts below line of Fig.12.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. on a larger'scale.

Fig. 7 is a detail view looking in the direction of arrow 7 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 represents a section similar to a portion of Fig. 2 on a larger scale.

Fig. 9 comprises two detail views of the wiper o'r scraper for the ribbed portion of one of the paraffining rolls.

Figs. 10 and 11 represent the treated blank, viewed from opposite sides.

Fig. 12 is a detail View on a larger scale than the other views, partly broken out, of the means for maintaining a constant level of the melted parafiin in the main reservoir or trough. r

Fig. 13 represents a section on line 1313 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view showing a different form of scraper sometimes employed in connection with the upper paraffining roll.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts in all of the views.

A suitably constructed frame'lz") carries at one end a table 16 for the blanks, said table having edge uides 17, the table being pivotally supported at 18 and having a rod or rods 19 pivoted to it at 20 and passingv through a clamp or clamps 21 whereby the table for the blanks may have its inclination varied. An adjustable shoe or shoes 22 extend under combing or feed wheels 23 carried by a shaft 24, a table 25 below the combing wheels being supported on a rod 26. This general structure of feed mechanism for paper or cardboard blanks forms no part of my present application and need not be described further herein. v

Mounted on the rod 26 'is a pinion 27 meshing with a gear 28 on the shaft 24, Figs. 2 and 3. The carrying device for the blanks to transfer them from the feed mechanism to the paraflining rolls comprises a frame 29 pivotally supported at 30 and having a series of pairs of rolls 31 provided with pinions 32 meshing with intermediate gears 33, a pinion*34 connecting the pinion 27 with one of the pinions of the first pair of rolls 31. The frame 29 and the entire set of carrying or forwarding rolls is ad-v justable as by means of screws 35 tapped into the side members of the frame 29 and troduced into the nip of the paraflining rolls from different elevations, that is, the rolls a splined connection 38 therewith (Figs. 2,

4 and 8). The. ends 39 of shaft 37 are mounted in bearings 40, only one of which is shown in Fig. 4, it being understood that the shafts of both of the parafiining rolls are supported at both ends in the manner illustrated at one end in Fig. 4.

' One end of the sleeve roll 36 is ribbed as at 41, an annular groove being formed between the ribbed portion and the body or smooth portion of said sleeve or roll. Below the paraflining rolls is the reservoir 43, the roll 36 dipping into the paraffin in said reservoir. A pipe 44 having a suitable valve 1 is provided to draw off the parafiin when desired.

The paraifin in the trough is kept in fluid condition, when the machine is in operation by suitable means as by steam in the chamber 45. 1

As will be understood hereinafter the roll 36 revolves in the direction of the arrows,

Figs. 2 and 8. To prevent the roll 36 from carrying up an excessive quantity of parafiin and to insure a smooth even coating of paraflin on said roll, I provide a felt wiper or scraper 46 suitably attached to a carrier by a bar 47 (Figs. 2, 5 and 8). The ends of the bar 47 are provided with lugs or ears 49 which are respectively pivoted at 50, 51 to link arms 52, 53 which in turn are pivoted at 54, 55 respectively to bracket arms 56, 57 which are rigidly connected and project inwardly from one wall of the reservoir 43. Rearwardly projecting portions of the link arms 52, 53 extend under screws 58 which extend down through arms 56, 57 and bear upon said rearwardly projecting portions to adjust the pressure of the wiper 46 against the roll 36.

For reasons hereinafter explained it is requisite that little or no paraflin shall be carried by the end portion 41 of the roll. To insure this result I provide a ribbed wiper 59 as best shown in Fig. 5, the shape of this wiper corresponding with the ribs 41 of the roll. This wiper 59 is carried by an arm 60 (Figs. 5 and 8) which is mounted upon a block 61 secured to the wall of the reservoir 43, the arm having slots 62' through which screws 63 pass into the block 61. A screw 64 passes through a depending ear 65 of the arm 60, said screw enabling the arm 60 to be adjusted in the direction of its length to vary the pressure of the prises a sleeve (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7) said sleeve being mounted on a shaft 67 and having a splined connection 68 therewith, the shaft 67 having reduced ends 69 mounted in bearings 70 which are vertically movable in the side walls of the frame.

One end of the sleeve roll 66 is ribbed as at 71, an annular groove 72 being formed between the ribbed portion and the smooth body portion of the roll.

The bearings 70 have stop screws 73 which in turn bear upon the bearings 40 of the lower roll shaft. Pressure springs 74 are between the bearings 70 and caps 76. Adjusting screws 75 passing through the caps 76 into the ears of the bearings 70, limit the lowermost position of the upper paraflining roll. These parts just described are employed to prevent actual contact of the two rolls at any time, even when no blanks are passing between the rolls. When the machine is in operation the blanks are not really subjected to any material pressure, the rolls being separated by a space just sufficient to insure the coating of the upper and lower surfaces of the blanks with a thin film of paraflin.

To coat the upper roll 66 with paraflin I employ a top trough the ends of which are indicated at 77 and the bottom at 78 (Figs.

2, 3, 4 and 6) the bottom 78 having prefer- I ably an upturned flange at its upper edge. Secured to the front edge of the bottom 78, by any suitable means is a felt wiper or scraper 79, the length being suflicient to bear upon the smooth body portion of the roll 66 and insure a light coating of parafiin passing by the wiper to be applied to'the blank. -Secured to one end of the upper trough is a blade 80 (Fig. 4) which overlaps the sleeve roll, the end wall 77 at the other end of the trough overlapping the other end of the sleeve. This is to insure the sleeve being shifted lengthwise of the shaft 67 when the trough is adjusted by the means hereinafter described.

The trough is supported by a carrier comprising a bar member 81 and end portions 82 which are mounted on guide rods 83 supported by the frame of the machine so that the entire carriage can be shifted longitudinally of said supporting rods. The bottom 78 of the trough is provided with slots 84 (Figs. 4 and 6) through which screws 85 pass into the member 81 of the carriage. Adjusting screws 86 passing through the portion 81 of the carriage and bearing against the flange of the trough, serves to adjust the pressure of the felt wiper 79 against the sleeve roll 66. When the desired adjustment has been efiected, it is rendered permanent by means of the screws 85.

Secured to one end of the carriage 82 (Figs; 6 and 7) is a block 87, screws 88 passing through open ended slots 89' in the block 87 enabling this block to be adjusted in a direction lengthwise of the carriage. A bar 90 is mounted on the block 87 and is adjustable in the direction of its length by means of an adjusting screw 91 so that the scraper: block 92 carried by the lower end of the-'ba 90 may be adjusted to vary its pressure against the ribbed portion 71 of the roll 66 in order to take up wear. This scraper block 92 is of peculiar formation as best shown in Fig. 9. It is provided with ribs 93 which fit the grooves of the ribbed portion 71 and has a tongue 94 which enters the annular groove 72. The upper face of this block 92 is provided with shallow groove 95 which groove extends also along the upper surface of the tongue 94. The roll 66 revolves in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6. Any parafiin adhering to the ribbed portion 71 is scraped out by the block 92, parafiin which may be in the groove 72 being scraped out by the tongue 94, all such parafiin which is scraped out traveling along the groove 95 and dropping down into the lower trough 43, such dropping being beyond the edge of any passing blank.

A long screw 96 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6) is provided with collars 97 on opposite sides of a portion of the frame 15, said screw extending into one end of the carriage so that when said screw is manually operated by any suitable wrench, the carriage will be adjusted longitudinally of the supporting rods 83, such adjustment also causing the upper sleeve 66 to slide along its shaft67. Adjustment when so effected may be rendered permanent by suitable binding screws 98 (Fig. 6).

It is to be understood that the lower paraiiining roll 36 may be held by any suitable means, longitudinally of the shaft 37. This lower roll, in practice, seldom needs adjustment. By adjusting the upper sleeve 66 along the shaft 67, the ribbed portions 41, 71 of the two rolls may be broughtnearer to or farther from each other, according to the width of the blanks to be treated. For instance, the shaded portions a of the blanks shown inFigs. 10 and 11 represent the portions which have been treated by themachine. When this blank is to be converted to carton form byasuitable folding machine,the edges 1) and c are to be adhesively connected. In order that these portions of the carton shall always be moisture proof, it is desirable that one portion 6 shall be treated on one side and not on the other, the edge portion 0 being treated on one side and not on the other. In other words, the blank shown in Figs. 10 and 11, when folded, will have the edge portions 6, 0, brought one upon the other and adhesively connected. Therefore, the upper surface of one edge portion will be left untreated, and the lower surface of the other edge portion will be left untreated, when the blank passes between the rolls 36, 66. This effect is produced by the ribbed portions 41, 71, which are separated from the main portions of'the rolls by the annular grooves 42, 72. The wipers or scrapers for the two ribbed portions either remove so much of the paraffin that the edge portions b, 0, will receive practically no paraflin at all or else will receive so little, from the apexes of the ribs that there will stillbe enough surface portions entirely free of parafiin to enable the portions 1) and-0 to be adhesively secured together.

I will now proceed to describe the means whereby the upper trough is kept supplied with the right quantity of melted paraflin Without liability of its running over the other side of roll 66. An overflow pipe 99 leads through one of the ends 77 of the upper trough and extends down so that parafiin discharging therefrom, will drop into the lower trough 43. This guards against there being any excess of any parafiin in the upper trough. The supply is kept up for the upper trough by means of a pump 100 (Fig. 3) having a suction pipe 101 leading down to near the bottom of trough 43 so that paraflin will be constantly pumped up from the trough 43. The pump discharges through a pipe 102 which is connected with a top pipe 103 extending across the machine, said top pipe being connectedby the pipe section 104 with a vertical pipe section 105 having a valve 106. Depending from the top pipe section 103 are several pipe sections having nozzles 107 which are controlled by valves 108. When the machine is runnin and the pump operated as hereinafter described, there is a constant circulation of melted parafiin from pipe 101. through the pump 100 and through the pipe sections ust described back into the lower trough 43. The valves of the nozzles 107 may be left permanently o en so as to permit a slight excess of para 11 to be discharged into the upper trough, the excess overflowing through the pipe 99 back into trough 43. If at any time the attendant finds that there is an insufiicient discharge through the nozzles 107, a partial closing of the valve 106 so as to restrict the circulation will increase the pressure resulting from the operation of the pump so as to eject the paraflin through nozzles 107 so as to temporarily increase the quantity of paraflin in the upper trough without having to manipulate the relatively inaccessible valves 108. This also to maintain the proper level, since if the level is too high it would interfere with the proper action of wiper 46, and if too low, the lower roll might not take up enough of a film. Occasional deposits of lumps of paraflin, to be melted in the heated trough 43 can not be safely relied upon. In Figs. 3, 12 and 13, I have illustrated means for automatically keeping a proper level for the paraflin in the main reservoir. At one side of the frame 15 is a vat or receptacle 109 into which large quantities of un-melted paraffin is deposited at such intervals as may be required, the bottom of this receptacle having a chamber 110 to receive steam from a pipe 111 to melt such paraflin. The whole may be supported by a bracket 112 from the frame of the machine. 1

Alongside of receptacle 109 and in position to be kept heated by the chamber 110,

' is a smaller receptacle which, for convenience of description, I refer to herein as the float chamber 113. A block 114 above the float chamber has a valve chamber 115, in which is mounted a valve 116 controlling a port 117, 118 from receptacle 109. An outlet from valve chamber 115 discharges through a pipe 119 into float chamber 113.

The valve 116 is carried by a stem 120, pivotally connected at 121 to a lever 122 pivotally supported at 123 and having its other end connected to a float 124 in chamber 113 by a two-part rod or link 125, 126, the two parts of which are adjusted to vary its length. A'pipe 127 (Figs. 2, 3 and 12) connects chamber 113 with the lower reservoir or trough 43, said pipe being at such height that the level of the-paraflin will always be the same in chamber 113 and trough 43. By varying the length of rod 125, 126, the level that will be maintained in chamber 113 and also in trough 43 can be varied, because the valve 116 which controls the supply from the stock receptacle 109 can be made to open and close, by the action of float 124, so as to maintain a practically constant level at such height as is deemed best for the work in hand.

Sometimes it is desired to parafiin only the lower surface of blanks fed between the rolls. When this is to be effected, all supply to the upper trough is cut off, as by closing all of the valves 108. As there might then be some transfer of paraffin from the lower roll to the upper roll, I provide means loose pulleys 135, 136, for a drive belt.

whereby, if there should be such transfer, no paraffin will be carried around by the upper roll to a point to be applied to the upper surfaces of the blanks. While the felt wiper 79 might serve, I prefer for this purpose to employ a wood scraper having a plurality of grooves as indicated at 130, 131, (Fig. 14). When there are two such grooves, they, with the edge of the scraper, present three scrapers, one behind the other, to arrest and deflect to one side any paraflin that may be On the upper roll. The change is effected either by substituting the grooved wood scraper for the felt wiper on the member 78, or substituting a different member 78 having the wood strip attached thereto, for

the one having the felt wiper.

One end 39 of shaft 37 is extended, as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with fast and It also has a gear 137 (Fig. 1) meshing with a gear 138 carried by one end of shaft 69, and with a gear 139 carried by a stud shaft 140. A pulley 141 (Fig. 3) secured to the stud shaft is connected by a belt 142 with a pull ley 143 carried by the feed wheel shaft 24 whereby the latter is driven. It is sometimes des irableto stop the operation of the feed for a brief time without stopping the rest of the machine. I efiect this control by means of a roll 144, (Figs. 1 and 3) which bears on the belt 142, said roll being carried by an arm 145 of an elbow lever which is pivotally supported on shaft 24, the arm 146 of said lever constituting a handle. A latch lever 147 is pivotally connected to arm or handle 146 at 148, and has a laterally projecting lug 149 adapted to cooperate with a fixed lug- 150 in holding the elbow lever and the roll 144 in the position shown in Fig. 1, to keep the belt taut to cause the feed rollshaft to be driven. A spring 151 is interposed between the upper end of the latch lever and the arm 146. To stop the operation of the feed, the operator grasps handle arm 146 and the latch, releases the lug 149 from lug 150 and swings arm 145 and roll 144 up to permit the belt to slip.

As the blanks pass from the nip of the rolls 66, 36, they are directed by a guide 152 to a suitable carrier'such as a belt 153 (Figs. 2 and 3) driven by a pulley 154 carried by a shaft, 155 having a sprocket connected by a chain 156 (Fig.1) with a sprocket carried by shaft 39. Said shaft has another sprocket connected by a chain 157 with a sprocket of the shaft 158 of the pump 100.

As the operations of the several parts of the machine have been explained in connection with the description of their structures, a further explanatlon of the operation of the machine as a whole will be unnecessary. However, the following points of advantage will be explained :The upper paraflining roll is so mounted as to never cause a heavy come together with such force as to cause a splash of parafiining material, on the next blank. While I sometimes refer to the nip of the paraflining rolls it is to be understood that I-do not mean by the use of this term that the rolls ever run in contact. By that term I simply mean those portions of the surface of the rolls which apply the parafiin to the blank. I

The structure of the machine as a whole is such that the untreated marginal surface portions of the blanks are preferably par-,

allel with the side edges of the blanks so as to leave pro-per portions after the adhesive action of the glue employed when the blanks are later, by other mechanism, converted into cartons.

Referring again to the structure of the scraper shown in Fig. 14, it is to be understoodjthat wood provides a material which is sufficientlyhard to remove the paraffin when desired, from the upper roll, andyet has no marring efiect upon said roll such as would be the case with a metal scraper.

By the employment of the term paraffin in the claims, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to that material as the water-proofing substance. Any equivalent material may be employed in the machine. The said term is to be understood as employed for the sake of brevity, not of limitation.

I claim:

1. A machine for "producing paraflined blanks with clear mar inal surface portions, having a pair 0 directly coacting rolls for the passage of blanks between them, one of the rolls being adjustable in the direction of its length, means for supplying parafiin to the rolls, and means for keeping one end of each roll clear. of par- 2 A machine for producing paraflined blanks with clear marginal surface portions, having a pair of directly coacting rolls for the passage of blanks between them, and a pair of shafts, sleeves mounted on said shafts and having splined connection therewith, means for adjusting one ofsaid sleeves in the direction of its length, means for supplying araflin to the sleeves,

andmeans for keepmg one end of each sleeve clear of paratfin.

3. A machine for producing paraflined blanks with clear marginal surface portions, having a pair of directly coacting rolls for the passage of blanks between them, and a pair of shafts, sleeves mounted on said shafts and havmg splined connection therewith, means for adjusting one of said sleeves in the direction of its length, means for supplying parafiin to the sleeves, each sleeve having one end ribbed, and means for removing parafiin from the ribbed ends of said sleeves in the direction of its length,

means for supplying paraffin to the sleeves, each sleeve having a ribbed end and an annular groove between the ribbed end and main. portion, and means for removing paraffin from the ribbed portions and the annular groove.

5. In a blank parafiining machine having a pair of treating rolls, means for supplying paraflin to each of said rolls, means for preventing said rolls from operating in contact with each other, and a carrier for de. li'vering blanks to the space between said rolls.

6. In a blank parafiining machine having a pair of treating rolls, means for preventing said rolls from operating in contact with each other, a carrier for delivering blanks to the space between said rolls, and means foradjusting the carrier to vary its plane of delivery.

7. In a blank parafiining machine having a pair of treating roll's, means for supplying parafiin to each of said rolls, means for preventing said rolls from operating in contact with each other and means for causing the upper roll to exert limited high pressure .upon blanks passing between the rolls.

8. A machine for applying liquid material to sheet material having a pair of directly coacting treating rolls one of which is adjustable in the direction'of its length to vary the length of the nip of said rolls.

9. A machine for applying liquid material to sheet material having a pair of directly coacting treating rolls one of which.

is adjustable inthe direction of its length to vary the length of the nip of said rolls, and means for supplying llquid material to each of said rolls; v

10. A blankcoating machine having a pair of treating rolls one of which is adj ustable in the direction .of its length to vary the length of the nip of said rolls, means for supplying liquid material to each of said rolls, and means for removing said material from portions of the rolls to prevent the blanks from being treated uniformly over their entire surfaces.

11. A blank coating machine having a pair of treating rolls one of which is adj ustable in the direction of its length to vary the length of the nip of said rolls, means for supplying liquid material to each of said rolls, means for removing said material from end portions of the rolls, and a wiper for one of said rolls. I

12. A blank coating machine having a pair of treating rolls one of which is ad justable in the direction of its length to vary the length of the nip of said rolls, means for supplying liquid material to each of said rolls, means for removing said material from end portions of the rolls, and a wood scraper for one of said rolls.

13. A blank paraflining machine having a pair of treating rolls one of which is adj ustable in the direction of its length to vary the length of the nip of said rolls, means for supplying paraflin to each of said rolls, means for removing paraffin from end portions of the rolls, and a wood scraper having an acting face for one of said rolls.

14. A blank paraflining machine having a pair of treating rolls one of which is adjustable in the direction of its length to vary the length of the nip of said rolls, said rolls having annularly ribbed end portions.

15. A blank paraflining machine having a pair of treating rolls one of which is adjustable in the direction of its length to vary the length of the nip of said rolls, said rolls having annularly ribbed ends, and ribbed scrapers for said ribbedends. v

16. A blank 'parafiining machine having a pair of treating rolls one of which is adjustable in the direction of its length to vary the length of the nip of said rolls, one of said rolls having a ribbed end portion and an annular groove between the ribbed portion and the body portion, and a scraper having a ribbed portion to co-act with the ribbed portion of the roll and provided with a tongue to enter said annular groove.

17. A blank paraflining machine having a pair of treating rolls, one of said rolls being adapted to be fixed-in end-wise adjusted position, and a screw for adjusting the other roll in the direction of its length. 18. A blank paraflining machine having upper and lower treating rolls normally I for simultaneously adjusting one of said troughs and its cooperating roll in the direction of the len h of the latter.

20. A para ing machine having a trough, a roll operatively mounted in said trough, a float chamber separate from the trough, an open-top receptacle for lumps of paraflin, means for heating said receptacle, chamber, and trough, a float in said chamber, a passageway between said receptacle and chamber, a valve controlling said passageway, and connections for operating said valve by the float, the float chamber and trough having free communication to preserve substantially the same level of melted parafiin in both. v

21. A paraifining machine having a trough, a roll operatively .mounted in said trough, a float chamber separate from the trough, an open-top receptacle for lumps of paraffin, means for heating said receptacle, chamber, and trough, a float in said chamber, a passageway between said receptacle and chamber, a valve controlling said passageway, and adjustable connections for operating said valve by the float, the float chamber and trough having free communication to preserve substantially the same level of melted paraflin in both.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed ray-- signature. I V

ELIE W. LABOMBABDE. 

